The Fifth Element (with Don Hartshorn)

Hosts In The Shell

#Arts #Jon Richter And Matt Adcock #Jon Richter #Matt Adcock

30:55

A secret field that summons lightning. A massive spiral that disappears into a salt lake. A celestial observatory carved into a volcano. Meet the wild—and sometimes explosive—world of land art, where artists craft masterpieces with dynamite and bulldozers. In our Season 2 premiere, guest Dylan Thuras, cofounder of Atlas Obscura, takes us off road and into the minds of the artists who literally reshaped parts of the Southwest. These works aren’t meant to be easy to reach—or to explain—but they just might change how you see the world. Land art you’ll visit in this episode: - Double Negative and City by Michael Heizer (Garden Valley, Nevada) - Spiral Jetty by Robert Smithson (Great Salt Lake, Utah) - Sun Tunnels by Nancy Holt (Great Basin Desert, Utah) - Lightning Field by Walter De Maria (Catron County, New Mexico) - Roden Crater by James Turrell (Painted Desert, Arizona) Via Podcast is a production of AAA Mountain West Group.…

about a year ago 53:38

MP3•Episode home

The Hosts are delighted to be joined by thriller writer extraordinaire, Don Hartshorn, to talk about Luc Besson's beloved and bonkers 1997 science fiction spectacular! Expect crazy costumes and deranged hairstyles, and that's before we even get to the movie...

53 episodes

The Fifth Element (with Don Hartshorn)

Hosts In The Shell

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

53 episodes

#Arts #Jon Richter And Matt Adcock #Jon Richter #Matt Adcock

All episodes

1
Hardware (bonus episode from the Dark Natter archives - the first time Jon and Matt met!) 1:10:02

3 days ago1:10:02

1:10:02

As we hurtle like a malfunctioning hovercab towards our season finale, we thought it would be fun to dust off this 2021 recording: the first time Jon and Matt ever met! It was a guest appearance by Matt on Jon's other podcast, Dark Natter (where dark fiction gets dissected), but unsurprisingly Matt picked a cyberpunk topic - it's almost like this show was their inescapable destiny...…

1
Peruvian cyberpunk with Gustaffo Vargas 46:49

17 days ago46:49

46:49

Those scoundrelly Hosts are joined by the far more wholesome, lovely, and massively talented cyber-graphic-novel-creator, Gustaffo Vargas, for a brilliant deep dive into the world of Peruvian cyberpunk! Tune in to find out how to modernise an ancient culture, Jon's favourite Studio Ghibli moment, and why Matt is changing his name to Adquot...…

1
Nemesis 57:23

4 weeks ago57:23

57:23

For those who haven't yet been introduced to this (ahem) masterpiece, Nemesis is the 1992 brainchild of legendary cyber-B-movie director Albert Pyun, and after you've watched it you'll be as incredulous as Jon that it spawned four sequels!! Tune in to find out what Jon and Matt made of this inexplicably endearing cyberpunk action (ahem) extravaganza...…

1
The Matrix trilogy (with Keith Anthony Baird) 1:01:06

7 weeks ago1:01:06

1:01:06

Despite covering The Matrix Resurrections way back at the start of this podcast's existence (before the cyberpsychosis had really kicked in), the Hosts have unbelievably never covered the original Matrix trilogy! Thankfully, brilliant multi-genre writer Keith Anthony Baird was on hand to join us to remedy that shocking state of affairs, resulting in a belter of an episode that aims to once and for all answer the question: why were the Matrix sequels so much worse than the original masterpiece??…

1
Casshern 54:34

8 weeks ago54:34

54:34

After years of podcasting, chatting and general cyber-film-buffery, it's unbelievable that the lads have only just realised they both absolutely love Kazuaki Kiriya's underrated (and bonkers) gem of a movie! Get yourselves suited up for a nice relaxing dip in a pool of body parts and Neo Cells...

1
Altered Carbon (with T R Napper) 49:39

10 weeks ago49:39

49:39

It's about time we covered this modern classic novel and its TV adaptation, and we're delighted to be joined by multi-award-winning cyberpunk writer T R Napper to do it! Join us for another wide-ranging chat that veers into Aliens and Bishop's knife trick (not the Fall Out Boy song...)

1
Strange Days 47:21

12 weeks ago47:21

47:21

Despite an all-star cast, the viewing public weren't enamoured with Kathryn Bigelow's millennium-paranoia-fuelled, disturbing-tech-exploring 1995 thriller... 30 years later, tune in to find out if the lads enjoyed the original SQUID game!

1
The Fifth Element (with Don Hartshorn) 53:38

14 weeks ago53:38

53:38

1
Alita: Battle Angel 51:18

17 weeks ago51:18

51:18

Sometimes things go under your radar despite being really really really cyberpunky. That was definitely the case for Jon with today's topic, a 2019 movie co-written by James Cameron... Matt had already seen it, obvs.

1
Terminator Zero (with James L Graetz) 53:04

18 weeks ago53:04

53:04

It's been a LONG wait for decent Terminator output, but Netflix's 2024 anime series about a Skynet rival has been a hit with many fans of the ailing franchise - including brilliant cyberpunk writer James L Graetz, who joins us to talk about the show, his work, and the imminent apocalypse!

1
Christmas special with ultra-exclusive guest... err, ChatGPT 43:25

20 weeks ago43:25

43:25

That's right, it's a merry cyber-Christmas once again, which can only mean one thing: time for a particularly daft episode that we wouldn't normally get away with! To celebrate Yuletide the Hosts welcome ChatGPT (aka Steve) to the show where they ask it hard-hitting questions like whether it's immoral for writers to use AI... and which reindeer would win in a fight.…

1
Westworld 50:27

22 weeks ago50:27

50:27

Matt and Jon discuss Westworld, both the 1973 sci-fi horror western and the more recent TV series/Ed Harris cool-em-up! Find out why the Hosts loved the movie and the early seasons of the show, and why they think the later seasons ended up shambling around in the desert with memory loss...

1
Larry Kuperman from Nightdive Studios talks System Shock, science fiction, and the art of video game preservation 59:01

24 weeks ago59:01

59:01

Jon and Matt are joined by Larry Kuperman, Director of Business Development at the brilliant Nightdive Studios, to discuss how their remakes and remasters play a crucial role in video game preservation. His account of the trials and tribulations of remaking System Shock are fascinating, his sci-fi reading recommendations are eclectic, and his anecdotes are hilarious - a must-listen!…

1
Gareth L Powell talks William Gibson's Burning Chrome and other influences 53:34

26 weeks ago53:34

53:34

Those cybernetically augmented oddballs are back, and this time they're honoured to be joined by fantastic and award-winning science fiction writer Gareth L Powell! Gareth talks about his work, his new publishing imprint, and influences including William Gibson's Burning Chrome collection and uniquely weird short story The Game of Rat and Dragon by Cordwainer Smith.…

1
Iain M Banks 56:12

28 weeks ago56:12

56:12

Jon and Matt gush about one of their all-time favourite writers, including his many novels about the utopian Culture, erm, culture, as well as his other standalone books, into each of which Iain M Banks packed more ideas than most writers manage in an entire career - a legendary literary figure to whom the lads try to do justice in their usual rambling style!…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Demolition Man (with Matthew A Goodwin) 57:56

31 weeks ago57:56

57:56

What's our boggle? We'll tell you! Today, the Hosts are joined in this episode by Matthew A Goodwin, award-winning cyberpunk and science fiction writer, to discuss one of the greatest (and most underrated?) action blockbusters of the nineties: Demolition Man!! Tune in and be well... but watch out for the occasional violation of the verbal morality statute.…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Red Dwarf 52:35

32 weeks ago52:35

52:35

In their latest game of 'is it really cyberpunk though?', the Hosts are treating themselves to a fun and nostalgic chat about beloved space-slob comedy series, Red Dwarf! Tune in for random recollections of classic episodes, and some questionable impersonations...

Hosts In The Shell

1
Cowboy Bebop (with Killtopia creator Dave Cook) 57:59

34 weeks ago57:59

57:59

One of the show's running gags is how many famed works of fiction co-Host Jon hasn't actually seen... for today's episode, featuring brilliant writer and Killtopia creator Dave Cook, co-Host Matt stapled Jon's eyeballs open and forced him to watch the entire Cowboy Bebop movie! Find out what Jon made of his first ever experience of this beloved anime, and how it influenced Dave's stellar work.…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Fallout 55:51

37 weeks ago55:51

55:51

The boys test the definition of cyberpunk once again, but who'd begrudge them a chance to enthuse about one of their all-time favourite gaming franchises, as well as the planet-obliteratingly successful Amazon Prime series?? Tune in to listen to the third instalment of the Hosts' new series, which is really starting with a bang... and hear Jon's disturbing confession about a certain Grandma Sparkle.…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Audio extract from Scarred by co-Host Jon Richter 4:46

37 weeks ago4:46

4:46

A little bonus episode for you in the form of co-Host Jon reading an excerpt from his latest novel, Scarred. As a fantasy epic, it isn't strictly cyberpunk... or is it?? If this floats your boat (or hovercar, or rickety grafted-together spacecraft), find out more about the book by searching for Scarred online (it's available from all good online retailers), or learn about Jon's other books and projects by exploring his sinister website at www.jon-richter.com.…

Hosts In The Shell

1
The Peripheral (with Tim Standish) 1:03:53

38 weeks ago1:03:53

1:03:53

The Hosts are back, and this time they're... hosting! Specifically Tim Standish, a returning guest from season one and a brilliant writer of (Edwardian) cyberpunk. Tim last featured in our episode discussing the works of William Gibson, so who better to lead a deep dive into his novel The Peripheral, as well as the short-lived but gripping Amazon Prime adaptation?? Set your eardrum augments to 'gorge' mode!!…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Pluto 40:49

40 weeks ago40:49

40:49

The boys are back!!! Season 2 kicks off with your favourite high-tech lowlifes discussing Netflix's brilliant anime adaptation of Naoki Urasawa and Takahashi Nagasaki's manga series, Pluto. Find out why Jon was reduced to tears (and no, it wasn't just because of Matt rinsing him out for never having seen Cowboy Bebop)...…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Hosts' big night out! (Plus Fanatical's Cyberpunk Dystopia Bundle) 34:15

2 years ago34:15

34:15

We're still recharging our graphene cobalt lithium mecha-batteries between seasons, but wanted to bring you a fun little episode recorded live and in person for the first time! Matt and Jon meet to drink beers and shoot the cyber-shit about ChatGPT and other (dark) matters, and also to plug the Cyberpunk Dystopia Bundle from Fanatical in which Matt's ace novel Complete Darkness is featured (as well as great books by some other Hosts In The Shell alumni!) Link to Cyberpunk Dystopia Bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/cyberpunk-dystopia-novels-collective-bundle Link to Jon's new book, Dark Fiction: https://www.jon-richter.com/dark-fiction…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Audio trailer for DARK FICTION by Jon Richter 3:39

2 years ago3:39

3:39

Okay, so it isn't strictly cyberpunk (although a couple of the tales definitely count!) but co-Host Jon hopes you don't mind him sharing the audio trailer for his new short horror fiction collection, DARK FICTION. This huge anthology features a batch of fresh and harrowing tales alongside some of Jon's best ever work, brought to life by illustrations by the brilliant David T Wilby. Perfect for anyone who likes short, creepy, haunting stories with unpredictable and unsettling twist endings, DARK FICTION explores subjects as wide-ranging as time travel, abominable snowmen, and what happens when Alexa becomes sentient... DARK FICTION is released on 9th June 2023 in paperback, hardback or ebook, and is available now for pre-order: UK: https://amzn.to/3LUVsYM US: https://amzn.to/42VG7xN Cover design by the awesome RoseWolf Design. Trailer features the track 'Anxiety' by the phenomenal Kevin MacLeod.…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Bonus episode! Neo Cyberpunk: Volume 3 trailer 22:32

2 years ago22:32

22:32

Wait, what?? I thought the Hosts were on hiatus... we are, but we've been thawed out and dragged from our stasis tanks for a special bit of promo for the recently-released third volume of the Neo Cyberpunk collection! We're both extremely proud to be featured in this ace cyberpunk anthology and hope you don't mind us hijacking the feed to promote it, and are delighted to be joined by Hosts In The Shell alumni (and featured writers) Nik Whittaker and Anna Mocikat to discuss their contributions as well as the collection more generally... including the foreword written by Bruce Bethke, the man who first coined the term 'cyberpunk' and inventor of the genre! Get your retractable metal claws on copies here: UK: https://amzn.to/3JXNoaj US: https://amzn.to/3KeOcb9…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Cyberpunk 2077 (season finale!) 55:17

2 years ago55:17

55:17

Well there you have it! After a fantastic year, the Hosts are off on holiday (Matt's heading to Neo Tokyo while Jon fancied a trip to Delta City), leaving you with a long-awaited episode about CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077... find out which of the Hosts loved it and which didn't, and hear about our encounters with Adam Smasher and a certain talkative gun... Thanks once again to everyone that has listened or contributed to the show over the past 27 episodes, and wishing you the very best for 2023!!…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Judge Dredd (vs Dredd!) 43:33

2 years ago43:33

43:33

It's the penultimate episode of the Hosts' first series, so we thought we'd try something a bit different; for the first time we're welcoming TWO guests (a returning - and still ace - Jim Keen, alongside the equally brilliant cyberpunk writer Luke Hancock) to talk about Judge Dredd, each representing one of the two movie versions! Listen as the two very different cinematic incarnations are JUDGED and SENTENCED... but will Carl Urban's chin reign supreme, or will the honours go to Stallone's golden Versace codpiece??…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Christmas special: best cyberpunk of 2022!!! 1:01:35

2 years ago1:01:35

1:01:35

You've all been very good children this year, so cyber-Santa has a special treat for you: the Hosts are having a crack at a shambolic award ceremony!! A crew of returning guests share their well wishes and their votes for best cyberpunk release of 2022 - tune in to find out who will win the coveted (ahem) award, and whether Jon has actually seen any of them... Featuring ace augmented humans: Mark Everglade (who also created the brilliant theme music!!) Patrick Tillett Tim Standish Brent Millis Nik Whittaker Anna Mocikat Craig Lea Gordon Dumptruck_DS Rachel Beck CoinOps, Scum and ShadowLink from the L0wL1f3 podcast Jim Keen Frasier Armitage (And Matt and Jon obvs)…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 41:11

2 years ago41:11

41:11

After months of pathetic excuses for not playing Cyberpunk 2077 yet, Jon has been forced at mantis-blade-point by Matt to whet his appetite with Studio Trigger's 2022 spinoff anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Spoiler alert: it's good!!

Hosts In The Shell

1
Cyberpunk body horror 51:03

2 years ago51:03

51:03

It's a bit late for Halloween, but that didn't stop the boys getting dark and disturbing in this episode about CYBERPUNK BODY HORROR!! Brilliant writer, Japanophile, livewire and cyberpunk encyclopedia Brent Millis joins the show to discuss classics like Tetsuo: The Iron Man and various other media where people get unwanted bits grafted on...…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Cyberpunk Day special!!! 53:38

3 years ago53:38

53:38

Break out the cyber-champagne and the, errr, nanotech party poppers, because it's time for the CYBERPUNK DAY festivities to commence!!! In honour of 2022's celebration of all things cyberpunk, the Hosts thought they'd take the opportunity to self-indulgently interview each other about their favourite works that haven't made it onto the podcast so far - comedy, controversy and creativity awaits!!…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Minority Report 59:02

3 years ago59:02

59:02

It's yet another adaptation of a Philip K Dick masterwork, this time (The) Minority Report, which was blockbusterized in 2002 and is beloved by many, including brilliant and extremely likeable cyberpunk writer Frasier Armitage! Tune in to hear us to chat to him about this Spielberg/Cruise heavy-hitter, and help us prove the system is infallible...…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Quake 47:38

3 years ago47:38

47:38

Jon's stretching the definition of cyberpunk to breaking point, but it's all for a good reason, because in this episode the Hosts get to talk about one of the greatest and most influential first-person shooters of all time with one of the greatest and most influential YouTubers and modders in the Quake community! The brilliant Dumptruck_DS talks about how Id Software's masterpiece is still going strong over 25 years after its release, despite arguably being a shambolic tech demo... and what could be more cyberpunk than that??…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Neuromancer, the Sprawl Trilogy, & William Gibson 43:16

3 years ago43:16

43:16

It had to happen... the Hosts finally tackle arguably the biggest cyberpunk work of all time, Neuromancer, along with its genre-defining creator whose shadow looms terrifyingly large across a Matrix of his making!! Thankfully their prayers to the cyber-gods were answered and a brilliant writer, William Gibson expert and all-round top bloke was beamed in to join them, in the shape of Tim Standish.…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Cyberpunk (and psychedelic) music with Kavus Torabi of The Utopia Strong! 43:14

3 years ago43:14

43:14

After a chance encounter at a recent comic book event, the Hosts are delighted to welcome multi-talented musical genius Kavus Torabi to the show, who was kind enough to take time out of his massively busy schedule (where he fronts or performs in at least 87 different bands including Gong, Knifeworld and recent Glastonbury debutants The Utopia Strong) to discuss his influences, favourite comics, psychedelic synthwave soundtracks, making music with a snooker legend, and more!…

Hosts In The Shell

1
The Terminator 1:02:43

3 years ago1:02:43

1:02:43

This week the boys are joined by disturbingly brilliant horror writer and Schwarzenegger super-fan Zoe-Lee O'Farrell to discuss the terrifying sci-fi/horror mash-up that is the original Terminator... and to attempt to rank it alongside the rest of the franchise's movie instalments! Tune in to find out which of the more recent sequels was banished to the hydraulic crusher...…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Avalon: bonus episode mashup with the L0wl1f3 podcast!! 1:39:23

3 years ago1:39:23

1:39:23

Imagine if Doctor Frankenstein had had access to cyberpunk technology... the sinister monstrosity he created would have been about 10% as shambolic and disturbing as this very special mash-up episode!! We had a brilliant time chatting to the fantastic crew of the L0wl1f3 podcast about Avalon, Mamoru Oshii's underappreciated 2001 live-action cyberpunk movie.…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Escape From New York 55:15

3 years ago55:15

55:15

The Hosts are joined this time by phenomenally talented writer, oracle of cyberpunk knowledge and utterly lovely fella, Nik Whittaker, to discuss one of Kurt Russell's most memorable performances as the grizzled, eye-patch wearing anti-hero, Snake Plissken! Listen as all hell breaks loose when Jon suggests that John Carpenter's masterpiece Escape From New York might not count as cyberpunk, and relax as calm is restored when the panel unanimously agree that the sequel is rubbish.…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Blade Runner 1:01:48

3 years ago1:01:48

1:01:48

What kind of self-respecting cyberpunk podcast waits until its 14th episode to cover Blade Runner!?? Erm, this one, it would seem... the Hosts finally tackle this genre stalwart (as well as its sequel and spinoffs) with special guest and brilliant writer Craig Lea Gordon - see if you can guess which of us failed the Voight-Kampff test!…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Batman Beyond and cyberpunk/superhero crossovers 57:56

3 years ago57:56

57:56

Matt and Jon are joined by the razor-sharp mind of Rachel E Beck to discuss her brilliant books, the Glitch Logs, as well as the crossover of the cyberpunk and superhero genres as embodied in the animated series Batman Beyond! Encompassing systems theory, the horrors of the class divide in education, and the Joker shooting a bloke dead with a comedy gun, this is possibly our most wide-ranging episode yet!!…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Luther Arkwright with creator Bryan Talbot 35:25

3 years ago35:25

35:25

In this episode, the Hosts' excitement is at fever pitch as they welcome legendary comic book and graphic novel artist and writer, Bryan Talbot!! Creator of Luther Arkwright, Bryan is discussing the brand new volume of the hero's adventures, as well as his other award-winning works including Alice in Sunderland and Grandville, and exploring the multiverse decades before Marvel did...…

Hosts In The Shell

1
Upgrade 45:41

3 years ago45:41

45:41

This time round the Hosts are scrutinising Leigh Whannell's 2018 cyberpunk action blockbuster, Upgrade... tune in to find out if the movie is an enhanced extravaganza or a botched operation!

Hosts In The Shell

1
The underclass in cyberpunk 47:40

3 years ago47:40

47:40

Matt's back with a vengeance, joining Jon and awesome writer Ted Weber to discuss Ted's cyberpunk fiction, as well as the popular genre trope of the plight of the underclass... but can the trio avoid becoming technologically obsolete!?

Hosts In The Shell

1
Robocop 59:30

3 years ago59:30

59:30

Matt is taking a well-earned break for this episode, so instead Jon is joined by ultra-talented writer and architectural genius Jim Keen to discuss gore-splattered science fiction classic, Robocop!! Tune in immediately... you have fifteen seconds to comply.

Hosts In The Shell

1
Snow Crash 48:13

3 years ago48:13